Proposed new Cabinet<\/p>\n
The likely winner of the country's first direct presidential
\nelection, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, has busied running mate Jusuf
\nKalla with preparing a lineup of their Cabinet.<\/p>\n
Most Jakarta dailies showed the future vice president in their
\nSept. 22 issue flanked by supporters -- including Hidayat
\nNurwahid of the Prosperous Justice Party and Alwi Shihab of the
\nNational Awakening Party -- at a press conference. Hidayat had
\nannounced that the future Cabinet would consist of professional
\nand credible individuals and would be announced on Oct. 20.<\/p>\n
On a separate occasion, Yusril Ihza Mahendra of the Crescent
\nStar Party, another Susilo-Kalla supporter, said the future
\nCabinet should be expanded by four new coordinating ministers, in
\nparticular the Coordinating Minister for Law Enforcement and
\nHuman Rights. This proposal is, of course, too subjective given
\nthat Yusril was once himself a Minister of Justice and Human
\nRights under the Megawati administration, and people might
\nperceive something \"suspicious\" behind it.<\/p>\n
What people are keen to see is an active effort to stamp out
\ncorruption in the first 100 days of Susilo's presidency, as urged
\nby Amien Rais, Todung Mulya Lubis and Hendardi (Kompas, Sept. 21
\nand Sept. 22), because this would ensure Susilo's credibility --
\nhe had lived up to one of his campaign promises.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Susilo's latest statement -- that if he were
\nelected the sixth president of Indonesia, he would not travel
\nabroad immediately, but would visit farmers, fishermen and the
\nconflict areas of Poso, Maluku, Papua and Aceh -- truly deserves
\nour support.<\/p>\n
As for the proposed post of coordinating minister, in order to
\nprevent suspicions and strengthen efforts to stamp out
\ncorruption, Susilo might consider the alternative of establishing
\na coordinating minister for development supervision and
\nadministrative reform, which existed under the Habibie
\nadministration. While the choice is his, a strong and credible
\nindividual -- hopefully, as credible as the late Baharuddin Lopa
\n-- would be the right candidate.<\/p>\n
This senior Cabinet official's tasks will include coordinating
\nthe National Police chief and the Attorney General, who are seen
\nnot to have made any significant achievements in enforcing the
\nlaw over the last five years, particularly in eradicating
\ncorruption.<\/p>\n
These two institutions have been a stumbling block to efforts
\nby the present Minister of Administrative Reform to eradicate
\ncorruption, as they had not followed up on reports of suspected
\ncorruption cases.<\/p>\n
M. RUSDI, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/proposed-new-cabinet-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }